Posted on 06/08/2013 7:59:31 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The trade ministers of the European Union’s member states are expected to give the European Commission a strong mandate next week to negotiate a far-reaching trade deal with the United States.
However, France is holding out against accepting a request from the Commission to be allowed to open discussions on rules governing audiovisual products, for fear of endangering legislation that allows EU countries to subsidize, protect and impose quotas for products of national cultural value.
When the trade ministers meet on Friday next week (14 June), France will be demanding that the “cultural exception” is excluded from the Commission’s negotiating mandate. …
The EU’s mandate will include the concept of a “living agreement”, a mechanism through which both sides could address issues that remain unresolved when the free-trade agreement is signed. There has been little debate about this, with the presumption being that experience from the negotiations would shape the living agreement. …
(Excerpt) Read more at europeanvoice.com ...
” a living agreement...” is that like a “living constitution”? then it ain’t worth the paper it is written on. Alice in Wonderland everywhere
First.....Free Trade is a failure. Second.....Free Trading with the poster child of failed Free Trade, the EU, is absolutely “sucking on the tailpipe in a closed garage” suicidal. Third....it will discourage Euros who already manufacture in the US....tariffs on Euros force them to build plants in the US
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